No Boss of Mine

In His Shirt

Finn glanced up from whatever he was typing behind his desk as Ashley entered the room.

"I didn't come at a bad time, did I?" she asked hesitantly.

Finn paused for a moment, then said, "Yeah... no. The meeting's over."

Ashley felt her cheeks warm under the steady gaze he kept on her. His eyes hadn't left her since she walked in.

In a husky voice, Finn added, "You're... in my shirt."

"I found it near the gym," Ashley said quickly. "You don't mind, do you?"

Finn cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "It's fine."

He turned back to his screen, though it was clear he was still distracted. Ashley, not missing the tension in the room, asked, "Well... how do I look?"

Finn looked up from his screen again, his eyes twinkling for just a second before he replied, "Cozy."

"That's it?" Ashley teased, hoping to break the awkwardness.

Finn smirked but didn't reply. He returned to typing, his fingers moving across the keys as he asked, "So, what is it? You can't sleep?"

"I was hoping I could borrow something to read," Ashley said, eyeing the shelves lining the room.

"Sure," Finn replied.

Ashley turned and began browsing the books. "Besides business books?" she asked, scanning the titles.

Without looking up, Finn responded, "Wouldn't it be more surprising if I didn't have them?"

Ashley ran her fingers over the spines of the books

He pointed to the top shelf. "Look there. That's where I keep my... leisurely books."

Ashley grinned. "I want to read thrillers."

She spotted a book high up and reached for it, only to feel Finn's shirt ride up slightly over her thighs. "Oops," she muttered under her breath. She sneaked a glance back, relieved to see Finn still typing away at his computer.

"He's not seeing," she murmured to herself, and tried again, this time using one hand to hold the shirt down while the other stretched for the book.

But the typing and tapping behind her stopped.

"Ahem," Finn cleared his throat, making her freeze.

Did he just see—?

A deep chuckle rumbled from Finn, filling the quiet of the study. "What are you doing?" he asked, his voice laced with amusement.

"I'm—" Ashley stammered, flustered, trying to maintain her composure.

She heard Finn push his chair back and step closer to her. The warmth of his presence pressed against her back as she scolded him in a softer tone, "Why are your books so high up anyway?"

"It's my library," Finn replied, the humor still in his voice.

"Of course," Ashley said, rolling her eyes, though her heart pounded faster with him so close.

Finn was standing right behind her now, his body heat radiating against her. His voice was lower as he asked, "So, that's the book you want?"

"Yes," Ashley nodded, her voice barely above a whisper.

"No way you can reach that on your own," Finn said, a hint of challenge in his tone.

Ashley glanced at him, her heart skipping a beat at the intensity of his gaze. He was so close—almost touching her. Determined, she got on her tiptoes, stretching her legs and arms as high as they could go. She felt the cool air beneath Finn's shirt as she reached for the book.

Finally, she grabbed it off the highest shelf, the shirt billowing as she stood straight again. "Got it!" she exclaimed triumphantly.

"Seriously—" Finn started to say.

But before he could finish, Ashley cut him off. "Bye! Good night!" she said quickly, rushing out of the office with the book in hand.

Finn completed the sentence under his breath with a sigh, "Good night..."

Ashley hurried back to her room, closing the door behind her. Once inside, she leaned against it, her mind racing.

"Shit, shit, shit!!" she whispered to herself, her heart still pounding. My mind was going crazy.